Hay fever season is upon us

If your eyes and nose resemble fountains these days, you know it is the season for what was known as hay fever in my younger days.

In those days, people also blamed goldenrod for the misery since the occurrence coincides with cutting hay and blooming goldenrod. But we now know the culprit is the common ragweed.

The true name is allergic rhinitis; however, more people will understand your discomfort if you call it hay fever. Common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, is native to North America. It is an annual that we have had the unfortunate responsibility of exporting to Europe where it now also thrives.

There are more than 30 species of ragweed, some of which are perennial. In our area the common ragweed is mostly found but giant ragweed may grow in some cultivated fields.

The botanical name means “food for the gods” possibly because birds do eat the seeds (and subsequently help spread the plant). Initially the name referred to the resemblance of the leaves to Artemisia. The term ragweed became common because in the heat the leaves wilt and the plant looks raggedy.

Common ragweed is an invasive plant that can compromise the yield of crops as well as providing misery for 10 percent or so of people who suffer from the allergy. The plant emerges in April and unless dealt with early grows to a height of 3- to 6-feet and blooms in late summer and early fall. The plant has both male and female flowers on the same stem. A plant which grows for a full season can produce 32,000 to 62,000 seeds per plant — no wonder ragweed is so invasive. The male flowers produce small yellow pollen grains that are easily wind-borne. Each plant can produce more than 1 billion pollen grains.

How can you rid your landscape or garden of ragweed? There is no easy answer. Over the years a variety of herbicides have been tried.

Research studies by crop scientists from Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan State and the University of Missouri have some ominous findings. As was feared when widespread use of Roundup (glyphosate) began, ragweed is becoming resistant to the herbicide. Resistance also happened with previously used herbicides. Spraying with something like Roundup in your garden or flowerbed would likely be disastrous for your other plants.

People also are cautioned against skin contact with ragweed because it can cause allergic reactions. Frequent cutting can help the gardener but isn’t practical for farm fields. If the plants are cut when small, they don’t bloom and share pollen and the competition with our desirable plants is reduced. Roadsides and waste areas still provide plenty of pollen to generate sneezes and watery eyes and noses. If you have a plague of ragweed, don’t give up the fight. Try to remember the sneezin’ season is relatively short.